How will they manage? By continuing to get production from Johan Franzen, Daniel Alfredsson, Darren Helm, Gustav Nyquist and others.

“We are missing our two-best players; the good thing is we’re been playing a lot better lately and everyone is playing with a lot more confidence,” Franzen said. “So, hopefully we can ride this out without him.

“We’ve got so many lines going right now, so I think we’ll be fine.”

Zetterberg said he needs rest and treatment for his back, which gave him trouble in 2006-07 and ’07-08, and that he likely won’t even skate for a couple of weeks.

Datsyuk has been on the ice briefly a couple of times since getting injured on Nov. 23 but has not started practicing. So it’s unlikely he’ll play this weekend – Friday at New Jersey and Saturday at home vs. Florida.

Wednesday will mark the first time since April 18, 2006 (a 6-3 loss to Nashville) that both Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be out of the lineup.

Zetterberg (11 goals, 30 points) and Datsyuk (12 goals, 23 points) rank 1-2 on the team in goals and points and are the club’s top defensive forwards.

“You look at both those guys, probably top-five in the league,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. “Being without two guys like that is going to show, but at the same time, we just got to come together, play a team game and we should be just fine.”

Zetterberg also has a good feeling about this group.

“We’re more calm on the ice, making better decisions and everyone is contributing and playing well,’’ Zetterberg said. “We’re getting goal-scoring from everyone. If we keep doing that we’ll be fine.”

Said coach Mike Babcock: “They’re good players, but other players are good players, too. So if you haven’t liked your share of the pie, grab some.”

Zetterberg’s linemates, Franzen and Nyquist, have done that. Franzen has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 10 games since returning from an injury.

“Before the injury I felt great physically, but sometimes the pucks are going in and sometimes they’re not,” Franzen said. “So it’s as easy as that.”

Said Babcock: “He’s just working and being patient, coming every day and being professional and leading. Him, Alfredsson and Kronwall they got to lead for us.”

Nyquist has four goals and an assist in six games since being recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

“Bringing up Nyquist really helped us and I just think our game was coming,” Babcock said. “When we lost every night in overtime and I’d tell you that we’re not that far away you probably didn’t believe me, but now you can. It’s like anything in life -- just stick to it, you do good things and good things happen over time.”

The second line also has stepped up. Helm has seven goals and 10 points in 14 games. Alfredsson has seven points (four goals, three assists) in the four games Datsyuk has missed.

“Helm’s really been a big factor since he came back; he’s got the confidence, he’s been flying out there,’’ Kronwall said. “That line has really been good for us. The other lines have been doing well, too, whether that’s scoring goals or playing really solid defense.

“We’ve been able to spend more time on offense. It’s a work in progress, but I think we have things moving in the right direction.”

Keeping the ship sailing without Zetterberg and Datsyuk is by far their biggest challenge.